Hoogly Blogs / chai tea

A Spook Full of Sugar

A Spook Full of Sugar

Greetings Hoogly fans! One of the most exciting times of the year will soon be upon us; a period rich in history and tradition; a night packed with mischief and mystery. For some, it is a bit of good fun; for others, an unsettling plunge into the dark side. I’m talking, of course, about Halloween! As a child, I used to adore heading out into the crisp October chill in one of my many disguises, including Batman, Count Dracula, Spiderman and various Victorian ghosts. Knocking on people’s doors and collecting chocolate seemed like an excellent way to spend an evening (it still does) but I don’t have any children of my own, and it seems extremely weird to borrow some for this purpose, or to trick-or-treat alone as an adult. One time during my childhood, however, there was some actual horror amidst all the fun. After collecting a hatful of sweets, I felt a pang of hunger and decided to unwrap a few chocolates and gorge to my heart’s content. It turned out that one of the sweet treats was not chocolate, but some kind of hard candy, which proceeded to chip my tooth and subsequently cut my gum. So, with very real blood dribbling down my chin, I returned to the nearest house, arms outstretched in panic, slapping a doorbell until a strange adult opened up and (after jumping back in shock) allowed me to come in and use the bathroom and get cleaned up. My friends were delighted with my antics, and it was clear that I had ‘won’ Halloween that year (as the kids say these days). I was in pain for a month afterwards, though, and I ended up with a tooth that was more werewolf than human (which is still prone to savaging my cheek from time to time), but I guess this is an adequate price to pay for a gob full of blood and some genuine scares on the spookiest night of the year!

To get you all the mood for the big day, we at Hoogly have cobbled together some of the most genuinely creepy places in the UK, to be avoided all costs if you are afraid of ghosts and other things that go bump in the night. 

 

1. Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire. This 12th century inn is purportedly ‘the most haunted house in Britain,’ having apparently been witness to suicide, child sacrifice, black magic and been used as a hideout for criminals. Visitors have claimed to have seen or felt the presence of a pair of demons, orbs, a witch and many other apparitions. Even hardened fans of the supernatural have admitted the Ram Inn is the scariest place they’ve ever visited. 

 

2. Borley Rectory, Essex. This Victorian Mansion first gained a spooky reputation in the 1860s when footsteps were heard during the night; in subsequent years the ghost of a nun, a pair of headless horsemen, a ghostly carriage and phantom servant bells have all been reported. The rectory’s hauntings came to prominence in 1929 when famed paranormal investigator Harry Price and the Daily Mail covered the strange goings-on. In a further twist, the building was sadly destroyed by fire in 1939.

 

3. Berry Pomeroy Castle, Devon. A picturesque castle in a pretty town harbouring a sinister secret! Two female spirits, The White Lady and the Blue Lady, stalk the halls of the old structure. The White Lady is said to haunt the dungeons; The Blue Lady is reported to haunt the tower, luring strangers to her aid, resulting in a lethal plunge if the passer-by intervenes. 

 

4. Ballygally Castle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The castle dates to 1625 and is steeped in history. Lady Isobel Shaw fell to her death more than 400 years ago after her husband (Lord James Shaw) locked her up for failing to produce a son. Isobel’s tragic fall occurred during an escape attempt. It is said that her ghost wanders the hotel to this day, wrapping on doors, as well as appearing and vanishing in rooms. Madame Nixon, a 19th century inhabitant of the castle, has also been seen and heard roaming the castle in her silk dress. Some visitors also claim to hear the running and giggling of ghostly children.

 

5. Pluckley Village, Kent. Pluckley has featured on many television programmes and is a popular haunt for ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts from around the UK. Guinness World Records 1989 named it the most haunted village in England, having as it does between 12 and 16 ghosts, including a screaming man, the Fright Corner highwayman, a school teacher found hung by a group of kids, and an old smoking woman on a bridge. Visit if you dare!

 

And what can possibly keep us safe from places of death, misdeeds and horror? Well, nothing, sadly. But a nice cup of tea will help. We heartily recommend Around the Fire Oolong tea for the frosty chill of late October. One of our customer favourites, this gorgeous brew is a cosy combination of smoky tea leaves and warming spices, licked by flames of safflower and sprinkled with crushed chilli for a hint of fiery charm. It’s the perfect shield against the creeping draughts of winter, ideal for winding down at the end of the day, as well as faithful and delicious companion as you watch late-night horror movies or read some spine-tingling ghost stories!

 

That’s it for now, tea lovers. Stay safe and have a horrific…I mean happy…Halloween!!

 

Written by Chris Bedford

www.hooglytea.com

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A Christmas Gift Of Tea!

A Christmas Gift Of Tea!

Greetings Hoogly fans! The festive season is upon us again and Christmas shoppers are already out in force seeking inspiration or hunting down items on gift lists. Finding something for everyone can be a stressful exercise, and there are certain people who are more difficult to buy for than others. What happens when you’ve browsed every website and wrestled your way through every shop in the mall and still come up empty-handed? Well, frustration might set in. With a few dollops of rage and a small helping of panic. What now?! Do you download an app that gives you randomised gift options and choose blindly, hoping for the best? Do you take a punt on something you think they might like but could well end up offending them? Do you get something simple and obvious that, despite all your deep thinking about the problem, ends up looking like you haven’t put much thought in at all? Do you consult a crystal ball or a medium? Or perhaps install listening devices in the person’s home on the off-chance that they might let slip their deepest gift desires over breakfast or while doing the ironing?

The answer to the above questions, of course, is none of these things.

When you’re stuck and about to pull your hair out, look no further than Hoogly Tea for gift ideas! As you know, we’re all about taking the stress out of life and getting you in the mood to chill and be mindful, and we just might have exactly what you’re looking for to alleviate the burden of Christmas shopping hell!

If you’re looking for an elegant gift that will thrill and delight your nearest and dearest, then we have a wide range of treasures to choose from. For example, what tea lover could resist our Winter Warmer Set, which includes a stylish, hand-crafted Hoogly hot water bottle, a ceramic mug with a bamboo lid, a golden spoon and two boxes of tea of your choice! This is the ultimate way to ward off the frosty temperatures, allowing you to stay cosy and calm whilst sipping one of our delicious brews to your heart’s content.

If you’re searching for a simple but charmingly attractive gift, why not go for our Hoogly Teapot? This delightful glass pot has a bamboo lid and a built-in filter, perfectly proportioned for one person. Simply add two teaspoons of loose leaf or one pyramid and you can watch your leaves unfurl in complete tranquillity!

If you’re looking for a cheeky stocking-filler, why not try our Hoogly Tea Sand Timer? We have two options depending on your preference: 3 minutes and 5 minutes. This is an excellent addition to any Hoogly home, with the draining granules providing a surprisingly relaxing way to wait for your scintillating tea to brew!

Stuck for a big and bold prezzie? Look no further than our beautiful Mug and Tea tray. This features a sleek, branded wooden box containing two bamboo-lidded Hoogly mugs and 20 wrapped teas in flavours of your choice, bringing the luxury of the hotel experience to your bedside table. Flavours include customer favourites such as Apple Strudel, Berrylicious, Earl Grey, Cosy Chamomile and Danish Pastry.

For the tea lover in your family who wants to experiment with scent and flavour, then the only choice is our elegant and dramatic Luxury Wooden Box! This attractive gift has six compartments filled with sixty individually wrapped tea pyramids and ten brands to choose from. Watch their eyes widen as they unwrap this sensational brew box and then delight in their effusive enthusiasm as they spend the next few weeks indulging in their eclectic selection, singing the praises of your gift-buying skills!

Last but not least, why not ditch plastic bags for good with one of our charming cotton Bags for Life?! Show off your favourite tea brand and shop with style with a small or large bag—or alternatively use as a gift bag to treat your friends and family to one of the above-mentioned Hoogly gifts!

That’s it for now, folks. I hope you continue to stay safe, happy and contented. Don’t forget to browse our website for further gift ideas, and have a wonderful Christmas!

Written by Chris Bedford

www.hooglytea.com

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Going vegan

Going vegan

At Hoogly Tea, we adhere to the Danish ethos of Hygge: a cosy, relaxed way of living that challenges us to focus on the things we love the most, and asks us to incorporate these things into our life as much as possible in order to be regain balance and tranquillity. It is an ethos that allows us to indulge in fluffy socks and naughty treats. It inspires us to create a soft nook of joy in our house, and spend all day reading, or invite friends and family around to bond over board games and baking. It reminds us to explore the beauty and restorative joy of nature, and releases us from the stresses of the everyday slog, while whispering gently in our ear: be kind to yourself.  It’s no surprise that the Danes, who created Hygge, are amongst the happiest people on the planet, and through our range of Hoogly teas, we wish to pass on this happiness, making the flick of the kettle switch a starting point for a whole new—and more mindful—way of experiencing the world.

And in the spirit of exploring new ways of looking at the world, Hoogly is proud to announce our recent Vegan certification, meaning that our entire range is now both Vegan and Gluten-free! We know there are a lot of Vegan Hoogly fans out there, and we’d like to take this opportunity to say hello, thank you for your support, and to talk a little bit about the lifestyle that over three million people in the UK have adopted.

Veganism, in essence, is about making a series of choices in both diet and lifestyle that will help alleviate animal suffering and exploitation around the world, with particular focus on reducing animal slaughter, poor livestock living conditions, the use of animals for cosmetics, makeup, furniture or clothing, as well as attempting to counteract the negative effects of the meat and dairy industries on the climate and environment.

Excitingly, incorporating a plant-based diet can provide a variety of health benefits, and there are many reasons why this may be the case. Vegans avoid red and cured meats, which have been linked with colon cancer. In addition, plant-based diets tend to be higher in fibre, fruit and vegetables, consumption of which usually leads to better long-term wellness. Vegans are also statistically leaner than non-Vegans, perhaps owing to a lower consumption of saturated fats, which in turn may lead to a reduction in diabetes and heart disease.

One aspect of the plant-based diet that often surprises people is the way that cutting out dairy can improve health. Milk products have been linked to a number of chronic ailments, including acne, nasal congestion, digestive issues and migraines, and there are plenty of delicious alternatives to try if you wish to give it a go, such as almond milk, coconut milk and soy milk.

In terms of food, you can enjoy many of your favourite meals such as curries, pizzas, lasagnes, pasties and stews with wonderful, plant-based ingredients—not to mention a whole load of cakes, cookies and brownies! Nowadays there are a huge amount of resources available to give you mealtime ideas: bookshops have entire sections devoted to Vegan recipes, and you can find simple and effective recipes at the click of a button online. And speaking of the web, one of the great parts of adopting this lifestyle is networking with likeminded people on social media, sharing hints, tips and photos, as well as offering support and unity, and keeping the message at the forefront of people’s minds.

And the message is, at its heart, is to act with compassion—to our fellow beings as well as our planet—which is something that we at Hoogly are very keen to promote. For our part, we make all of our tea pyramid bags out of plant extract, which means they are fully biodegradable. It’s a small, very positive step, which, combined with other similar steps, will help us get closer to the kind of world we all wish to see.

Finally, as Summer draws near, we’d like to recommend a juicy June gem…Berrylicious herbal infusion. This fruity treat is bursting with the gorgeous flavours of apple, raspberries and strawberries, counterbalanced by the rich, caramelised notes of roasted dandelion root. So, drag out that deckchair, pop on your sunnies, and indulge in the luxurious taste of sunshine, smiles and endless balmy nights.

Disclaimer: Good weather not guaranteed. Umbrellas advised.

That’s all for now, Hoogly heroes. Be kind to yourself and others, and try adding a little Danish delight to your life…

 Written by Chris Bedford

www.hooglytea.com

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